We all have the right to live long and healthy lives, without breaking the bank. Unfortunately, our current health care system is overly complicated for everyone. We need more transparency.
To bring attention to this issue, cost-of-healthcare news is keeping an eye who pays how much for what -- and why -- and keeping you informed.
Two new reports refute the notion – so cherished by politicians of both parties – that drug prices are“skyrocketing.” In fact, they are rising less than overall inflation.
The first report, issued Nov. 14 and titled,“Prescription Drug Costs Trend Update,”comes from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. BCBS is a behemoth, a network of 36 companies that provide commercial coverage to 88 million Americans who last year spent $100.2 billion on prescription drugs.
That is an increase of $2.2 billion, or 2.2%, over last year. And 2.2% is almost precisely the same rate of increase as that of theConsumer Price Indexover the same one-year period. Hardly a skyrocket.
